Bandelier joins list of parks banning drones

LOS ALAMOS, N.M. (AP) – Bandelier National Monument in northern New Mexico is banning the use of drones.

Monument officials announced the ban Wednesday, saying incidents involving unmanned aircraft at other national parks around the country prompted the decision. The ban will be in effect until further notice.

Officials cited instances in which wildlife and visitors seeking quiet and solitude were disturbed by buzzing drones. They also pointed to the recent crash of a drone into Yellowstone’s famous Grand Prismatic Spring.

Under the new rule, anyone caught using model airplanes, quadcopters or other types of drones within the monument’s boundaries could face fines up to $5,000 and six months in jail.

Four other large national parks in the Southwest have already changed their rules to ban drones, including Grand Canyon in Arizona.